Anyone who is serving or has served in the Armed Forces, including Reserve Forces and Cadets, or spouses of such may apply. A Committee will consider applications from eligible personnel. Applicants are accepted if their work is deemed to be of the requisite standard which is high and must be in keeping with the Society's exhibitions at the Mall Galleries, one of London's most prestigious galleries (see images on the Artists pages). The Committee will require samples of work showing as much variety of the artists skills as possible. The work should have been completed within the last 3 years and images can be supplied by email, as photographs by post, and/or by referral to websites depicting the applicant's work. It is expected that applicants will have had experience of exhibiting elsewhere, except in exceptional circumstances such as the exigency of Service life. Associate Members pay an annual membership fee of 15 pounds and may submit up to four works for the annual exhibition for hanging subject to the discretion of the Selection Committee. Full Members are elected from those who have shown a consistent standard at the Society's exhibitions, preferably in consecutive years, and have the privilege of submitting up to six works which will be exhibited subject to the discretion of the Selection Committee. Annual fee 30 pounds. Full Members only are entitled to the designation AFAS after their names. A submission fee is payable per work at exhibition time.

Before applying to the Society potential applicants should look at the Artists Gallery pages where they will find a wide range of samples of work by the membership. These show that the standard required is very high and applicants will be required to meet that level. To avoid disappointment, it is recommended that applicants apply a high degree of self-assessment before contacting the Society.